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BIBLICAL FLORA AND FAUNA

Maliau Basin waterfall: Sabah's LOST WORLD

BIBLICAL BOTANY
By Jim A. Duke
The Biblical World, bridging Africa via Egypt thru Israel and

Palestine to Europe and the Middle East, is at the crossroads of the

African and the European Continent. While few of these species are

native to Tropical Africa, many if not most, still flourish today in

Egypt and Israel, on both sides of the Suez Canal. I have had the

pleasure of seeing both sides of the Suez Canal and Mount Sinai, on

the day when it reverted from Israel to Egypt. Herewith I present

some old, some, new, some borrowed, some blue observations, on

Biblical Botany, especially medicinal, since so much has happened


since the 1983 publication of my Medicinal Plants of the Bible, now

out of print. I now seek new medicinal information on these old

Biblical species. Why? Because more Americans are going to

Alternative Practitioners, including religious and herbal advocates,

than to Convention Physicians. And many of these Biblical species

have proven biological activities which could prove synergistic with

the New Age patient's faith in religion, and with the proven placebo

effect.

Some even say that the pyramids owe their existence to the fortitude

of the laborers, fortified with garlic and onion, that Cicero's

passion may have been in part due to the l-dopa in the faba bean,

that Leah was turned on by the atropine and scopolamine in the roots

of the mandrake, and, incredibly, that the apple of the Bible may

have in fact been the pomegranate, now reportedly the best plant

source of the estrogen called estrone. There's even the suggestion

that Solomon treated boils with fig juice. The proteolytic latex of

figs is widely used in the third world, even today, as an

antiseptic.

And now for some ABC's! We here in the New World are often jarred to

find that in the Biblical Old World, they mean something differently

than we do when they say apple, bean, and corn. The Biblical Apple

may have been what we today call apple, or it may have been apricot

or pomegranate (depending on which scholar you believe), the Bean is

what we call the faba bean, and Corn is what we call wheat.
Perhaps the healthiest recommendation in the Bible is to "eat with

bitter herbs", anticipating a couple millenia the NIH appeal to eat

your leafy veggies. The bitter herbs of the Bible have variously been

interpreted to include chicory, dandelion, endive, lettuce, sheep

sorrel, and watercress. Zohary (1982) adds dwarf chicory and poppy-

leaved Reichardia, and by close juxtaposition, rocket. I find it more

bitter than the endive, lettuce, and watercross.

It's clear that believing is part of the healing process. NBC News

presented Dr. Herbert Benson, author of Timless Healing, who said

that 95% of Americans believed in God, and that 99% of family

physicians believed that faith can help heal. Dr. Benson spoke of

healing as a three-legged stool, (1) Self (including beliefs,

exercise, relaxation, and nutrition, wherein we'll fit our Biblical

foods and spices) (2) Drugs (wherein we'll fit drugs like l-dopa from

faba bean, morphine from the opium poppy, and many medicinal herbs)

and (3) Surgery.

Israeli Botanical Scholar, Michael Zohary (1982), states rather

expressly: "Although healing by plants is not explicitly mentioned in

the Bible, herbal remedies were numerous and specific... The ultimate

healer was God, and prayer was therefore the remedy most often

prescribed." Because mentioning medicinal uses of plant would defy

"the belief in God's exclusive healing power, they were not mentioned

in the scripture". If we can add the real medicinal potential of the

biologically active compounds in many of these medicinal plants, to

the placebo effect, and to the real belief in God and the Bible, it
augurs well for these Medicinal Plants of the Bible.

I've sprinkled the following tabulation of the medicinal plants of

the bible with what I assess as purely folk medicinal indications

(lower case), healing indications (in CAPITAL LETTERS indicating that

the plant clearly contains phytochemicals that could help and even

more posotove indications (in CAPSs and BOLD FONT, indicating that

the plant has been proven useful for the indications). I believe that

my enumerating these indications (and I have enumerated less than

half of the folk indications), I can strengthen the faith systems of

some readers, and thereby help them heal themselves. In no way,

however, am I recommending self diagnosis and/or self medication. I

am enumerating those plants that one or another scholarly authority

has considered to be a Biblical Plant, and tabulating a few of the

real and folk indications for those herbs. Only your health

practitioner can advise you as to whether or not you should use these

herbs in your healing. I do.

Except for those species preceded by an asterisk *, all of these

entries were included in the out-of-print Medicinal Plants of the

Bible (Duke and Duke, 1983), illustrated in part by my wife Peggy.

Zohary (1982), for example, added 35 species to my published account

of 142 species, including some important medicinal species like Aloe

vera, Calotropis procera, Commiphora abyssinica, Curcuma longa,

Cymbopogon martinii, Hyoscyamus muticus, Lagenaria

siceraria, and Liquidambar orientalis. I have indicated such new

inclusions from Zohary with the asterisk*.


Zohary's book embarassed me with a student I had been ill-advising

that the apple in the Bible was either apricot or pomegranate. For

her, with apologies for my relying, too staunchly, on my earlier

sources, I quote: "The cultivated flora consisted of plants

domesticated in loco or in nearby countries, like wheat, barley,

lentil, pea, (I did not have pea in my earlier book either), fig,

olive, carob, date palm, sycamore, and plants introduced from fairly

remote countries, like the pomegranate, walnut, vine, apple,

mulberry, and pistachio. Quite a number of plants have never grown in

the Land, but were imported as drugs or spices - like nard, myrrh,

galbanum, cinnamon, saunders and the like... The Bible mentions

lentils, broad beans, and chick-peas (I missed that one), but bitter

vetch and garden peas as well as fenugreek were probably grown too."

(Zohary, 1982)

Israeli authors like Zohary, more familiar with the Isareli Flora and

the Bible than am I, should be better equipped to speculate as to

which herbs were really meant in some elusive passages. I'm both

pleased and displeased to note that Zohary, too, leaves a few

problems unresolved, including one involving two major medicinal

plants, saffron and turmeric, and one minor medicinal, safflower, all

sources of yellow dyes. All three can be grown in warmer reagions of

Israel, but the turmeric would be difficult. Saffron and safflower

would both be easy. Here are points which Zohary makes! "Saffron (in

Hebrew, karkom) is mentioned only once in the Bible" Some

commentators identify it with turmeric which "was never grown" in


this country, others with saffron, which was probably grown only in

post-biblical times. There is linguistic support for both

possibilities. "There is no doubt that the sown karkom fields

mentioned in the Mishnah (of the Talmud) refer to Crocus sativus".

More data he presents point "to the identification of

biblical karkom as turmeric and not as crocus. . . But doubt arises

when one considers another widely cultivated annual yielding numerous

heads of orange flowers."(safflower, Carthamus tinctorius). Where

does this leave me? Should I include just one or all three of the

candidates for the one mention of saffron in the Bible? From the

medicinal point of view, turmeric seems even more important than

saffron, which appears even more important than safflower. Ditto from

the likelihood point of view, based on the views of Zohary.

Zohary's account of the Thorns & Thistles reiterates the problems

with identifying modern botanical speciest in historical scriptures

written by non-botanists. "More than seventy species of spiny plants

grow among the flora of Israel and more than twenty are mentioned in

the Scripture. No other group of plant names in the Bible is so

frequently misidentified and arbitrarily translated. . . No thorn

name in any version of the Bible is reliably translated."

*ABIES CILICICA (Ant. & Ky.) Carr. "Cilician Fir" "Berosh (Biblical)"
"They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir." Ezekiel 27:3-5.
ACACIA NILOTICA (L.) Dcl. "Babul" "Egyptian Mimosa" "Thorn" " Bush"
(LEGUME FAMILY) "... The Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire
out of the midst of a bush..." Exodus 3. Cough; DIABETES; Fever,
Hemorrhage, Hemorrhoids; Sclerosis; Smallpox.
*ACACIA RADDIANA Savi "Common Acacia" "And you shall make upright
frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood." Exodus 26: 15.
ACACIA SEYAL Del. "White Whistling Wood" "Shittim Wood" (LEGUME
FAMILY) "...I will plant in the wilderness... the Shittah tree..."
Isaiah 41. Bronchitis; Rheumatism.
ACACIA TORTILIS (Forsk.) Hayne "Umbrella Thorn" "Seyal" "Shittim
Wood" (LEGUME FAMILY) "...And I made an ark of Shittim wood.."
Deuteronomy 10. Dermatitis; Worms
ACANTHUS SYRIACUS Boiss. "Nettles" (Biblical) (ACANTHUS FAMILY)
"...Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were
gathered together..." Job 30. Astringent; Diuretic.
AGROSTEMMA GITHAGO L. "Corn Cockle" "Cockle" (PINK FAMILY) "...If my
land cry against me...Let thistles grow instead of wheat and cockle
instead of barley..." Job 31. Cancer; Dropsy; Jaundice.
*ALCEA ROSEA L. (Syn.;ALCEA SETOSA (Boiss.) Alef.) "Hollyhock"
"Purslane (Biblical)" "Can that which is tasteless be eaten without
salt, or is there any taste in the slime of the purslane?" Job 6:6-7
Cold; COUGH; Cramps; Edema; SORE THROAT; ULCERS.
ALHAGI CAMELORUM Fisch. "Camelthorn" "Manna" (Biblical) (LEGUME
FAMILY) "...we have sent you money to buy burnt-offerings, and sin
offerings, and incense, and prepare ye manna..." Baruch 1. Asthma;
Anuria; Bronchitis; Impotence; Leprosy; Obesity; Piles; Smallpox.
ALLIUM CEPA L. "Onion" (LILY FAMILY) "...We remember the fish, which
we did eat in Egypt...the leeks, and the onions..." Numbers 11.
ANGINA, CANCER, DIABETES, HYPERTENSION.
*ALLIUM PORRUM L. "Leek" (LILY FAMILY) "...We remember the fish,
which we did eat in Egypt...the leeks, and the onions..." Numbers 11.
ANGINA, CANCER, DIABETES, HYPERTENSION.
ALLIUM SATIVUM L. "Garlic" (LILY FAMILY) "...We remember the fish...
and the garlick..." Numbers 11. ANGINA; CANCER, COLDS; DIABETES; FLU;
HYPERTENSION, INFECTIONS.
ALOE PERRYI Baker "Socotrine Aloe" "Aloes" (ALOE FAMILY) "...and
brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes..." John 19. BURNS; CANCER;
CONSTIPATION.
*ALOE VERA (L.) Burm. f. "Barbados Aloe" "Aloes" (ALOE FAMILY)
"Nicodemus also, who had at first come to him by night, came bring a
mixture of myrrh and aloes about a hundreds pound weight. They took
the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as
is the burial custom of the Jews.." John 19: 39-40. BURNS; CANCER;
CONSTIPATION.
*ANABASIS ARTICULATA (Forssk.) Moq. "Jointed Anabasis" "Shuni
(Biblical)" (LAMBSQUARTER FAMILY). "The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi,
Shuni..." Genesis 46: 16. Edema; Headache; Scabies; Sores; Warts;
Wounds.
ANASTATICA HIEROCHUNTICA L. "Jericho Rose", "Mary's Flower",
"Palestinian Tumbleweed", "Wheel" (Biblical) (MUSTARD FAMILY) "... O
my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. . ."
Psalms 83. Cold; epilepsy; parturition.
ANEMONE CORONARIA L. "Windflower", "Anemone," "Lily of the Field",
"Poppy Anemone", "Garden Anemone" (Biblical) (BUTTERCUP FAMILY)
"...Consider the lilies of the field, how the grow; they toil not,
neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in
all his glory was not arrayed like one of these..." Matthew 6.
Leprosy; malaria; tuberculosis; tumors.
ANETHUM GRAVEOLENS L. "Dill", " Dill Seed", "Garden Dill", "Anise"
(Biblical) (CELERY FAMILY) "...Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin..." Matthew
23. Cancer, COLIC, DYSPEPSIA; ESTROGENIC.
*MATRICARIA AUREA (Loefl.) Sch. Bip (Syn.ANTHEMIS SP sensu Zohary).
"Dog Chamomile" (ASTER FAMILY) "All flesh is grass, and all its glory
like the flower of the grass.The grass withers, and the flower falls;
but the word of the Lord abides forever." I Peter 1:24. Cold;
Conjunctivitis; Cough; Debility; Diabetes; ENTERALGIA; Fever;
Gingivosis; Headache; Myalgia; Neuralgia; Neurosis; Toothache;
Wounds.
AQUILLARIA AGALLOCHA Roxb. "Eaglewood" "Aloes" (Biblical Old
Testament) (EAGLEWOOD FAMILY) "...All thy garments smell of myrrh,
and aloes..." Psalm 45. Asthma; CANCER; Dermatitis; Fever; Gout;
Hepatitis; Malaria; Rheumatism.
ARTEMISIA HERBA-ALBA Asso. "White Wormwood" "Wormwood" (Biblical)
(ASTER FAMILY) "...But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-
edged sword..."Proverbs 5. Bronchitis; COLD; Cough; Fever; Toothache;
WORMS.
ARUNDO DONAX L. "Giant Reed", "Spanish Cane", "Reed" (Biblical)
(GRASS FAMILY) "...A reed shaken with the wind..."Matthew 11. Cancer;
Dropsy; Dyslactea; Hypertension.
*ASTRAGALUS BETHLEHEMITICUS Boiss. "BethlehemTragacanth"
"Gum"(Biblical) (LEGUME FAMILY) "A little balm and a little honey,
gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds." Genesis 43: 11. BURNS;
CANCER; COUGH; Diarrhea.
ASTRAGALUS GUMMIFER Labill "Tragacanth" "Gum" (Biblical) "Spice"
(Biblical) (LEGUME FAMILY) "A little balm and a little honey, gum,
myrrh, piustachio nuts, and almonds." Genesis 43: 11. "...I have
gathered my myrrh with my spice..." Song of Solomon 5. BURNS; CANCER;
COUGH; Diarrhea.
ATRIPLEX HALIMUS L. "Sea Purslane", "Mallow" (Biblical) "Shrubby
Orach" (LAMB'SQUARTER FAMILY) "...Who cuts up mallows by the bushes,
and juniper roots for their meat..." Job 30. Dermatitis;
Hyperacidity; Sores; Ulcers.
BALANITES AEGYPTIACA (L.) Delil "Desert Date", "Jericho Balsam"
"Balm" (Biblical) (DESERT DATE FAMILY) "...Is there no balm in
Gilead, is there no physician there?..." Jeremiah 8. ANTISEPTIC;
Burns; Cough; Herpes; Colic; Malaria; Rheumatism; Syphilis.
BOSWELLIA CARTERI Birdwell "Olibanum" "Frankincense" (Biblical)
(COPAL FAMILY) "...Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with
all trees of frankincense, myrhh and aloes, with all the chief
spices..." Song of Solomon 4. Bilharzia: Dysentery; Fever; Gonorrhea;
Polyps.
*BOSWELLIA SACRA Flueckiger "Frankincense" (COPAL FAMILY) Take sweet
spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pourre
frankincense. . . and make an incense blended as by the perfumer,
seasoned with salt, pure and holy." Exodus 30: 34-5.
BRASSICA NIGRA (L.) Koch "Black Mustard" (MUSTARD FAMILY) "...The
kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man
took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds:
but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs..." Matthew 13.
Arthritis; BRONCHITIS; CANCER; COLDS; Pluerisy; Pneumonia;
Rheumatism.
BUXUS LONGIFOLIA Boiss. "Boxwood" "Box (Biblical) (BOXWOOD
FAMILY)"...I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and
the box tree together... " Isaiah 41. Cancer; Leprosy, Malaria;
Rheumatism; Syphilis; Worms.
*CALOTROPIS PROCERA (Ait.) Ait.f. "Giant Milkweed" "Apple of Sodom"
"Mudar" "Osher"(Arabic) "...(I) in consequence of which there are
still the remainders of that divine fire, and the traces or shadows
of the five cities are still to be seen, as well as the ashes growing
in their fruits, which fruits have a color as if they were fit to be
eaten, but if you pluck them with your hands they dissolve into smoke
and ashes." Josephus, Jewish Wars Book IV 8:4. Astma; Cardiopathy;
Cough; Dysentery; Elephantiasis; Scabies; Sunstroke; Ulcers.
CAPPARIS SPINOSA L. "Caper", "Caper-Bush", "Alcaparro", " Desire
(Biblical)" (CAPER FAMILY) "...fears shall be in the way, and the
almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden,
and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home..."
Ecclesiastes 12. Arthritis; Cancer; Dysentery; Fractures; Malaria;
Ophthalmia; Sciatica.
*=SENNA ALEXANDRINA Miller (Syn. CASSIA SENNA L).
CEDRUS LIBANI Barr "Cedar of Lebanon" (CEDAR FAMILY) "...let fire
come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebannon..." Judges
9. ...Behold...a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches...Ezekiel 31.
Asthma; Bronchitis; Burns; Cancer; Dermatitis; Tuberculosis William
Cullen Bryant beautifully praised the cedars, clearly predicting my
sentiments:
"The groves were God's first temples,
Ere man learned
To hew the shaft..."
CENTAUREA CALCITRAPA L. "Star-Thistle" (ASTER FAMILY) "...Thorns also
and thistles shall it bring forth to thee..." Genesis 3. Cancer;
Gravel; Headache; Jaundice' Malaria; Ophthalmia.
*CENTAUREA IBERICA Spreng.. "Spanish-Thistle" (ASTER FAMILY)
"...Thorn and thistles shall grow up on their altars." Hosea 10:8.
*CEPHALARIA SYRIACA (L.) Schrad. "Syrian Scabious" "Weeds" (TEASEL
FAMILY) "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed
good seed in his field.; but while men were sleeping, his enemy came
and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away." Matthew 13: 24-5.
CERATONIA SILIQUA L. "Carob", "Algarrobo"," Carob Bean", " Locust
(Biblical)", " John's Bread", "St. John's Bread" (LEGUME FAMILY)
"...John had his raiment of camel`s hair, and a leathern girdle about
his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey..." Matthew 3.
Asthma; CANCER; Cough; Hoarseness; HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA.
CERCIS SILIQUASTRUM L. "Judas Tree" "Redbud" (LEGUME FAMILY) "...And
he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and
went and hanged himself..." Matthew 27. Catarrh; Headache.
*CHRYSANTHEMUM CORONARIUM L. "Crown Daisy" "Garland" (ASTER FAMILY)
"Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his
humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away.
James I: 9-10. AIDS; DYSPEPSIA; Gonorrhea; Itch; MELANOMA; Worms.
*CICER ARIETINUM L. "Chick Pea" "Provender (Biblical) "And the oxen
and the ases that till the ground will eat salted provender, which
has been winnowed with shovel and fork." Isaiah 30: 24. CANCER:
Constipation ; Dermatosis; Dyspepsia; Itch; Leprosy; Smallpox;
Sunstroke.
CICHORIUM ENDIVIA L. "Endive" (ASTER FAMILY) "...eat it with
unleavened bread and bitter herbs..." Numbers 9. Dyspepsia; Fever;
Gout, Headache; Jaundice; Splenosis; Tumor.
CICHORIUM INTYBUS L. "Chicory", "Succory", "Witloof Chicory" ,
"Radichetta", "Asparagus Chicory" (ASTER FAMILY) "...And they shall
eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened breads;
and with bitter herbs they shall eat it..." Exodus 12. AIDS; Asthma;
CANCER; DIABETES; Dysmenorrhea; Impotence; INSOMNIA; Splenitis;
Tachycardia.
*CICHORIUM PUMILUM Jacq.. "Dwarf Chicory" "Bitter Herb" (Biblical)
(ASTER FAMILY) "...with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall
eat it." Exodus 12:8. AIDS; Cancer; Dropsy; Gout; Warts.
CINNAMOMUM CASSIA Blume "Saigon Cinnamon", "Cassia Bark", " Cassia
(Biblical) " (LAUREL FAMILY) "...the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,
Take thou also unto thee principal spices...of cassia five hundred
shekels..." Exodus 30. DIABETES; Dysmenorrhea; DYSPEPSIA; PAIN;
FEVER; Rheumatism; Vaginitis.
CINNAMOMUM VERUM J.S. Presl. "Ceylon Cinnamon" (LAUREL FAMILY)
"...And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for
no man buyeth their...cinnamon, and odours, and ointments..."
Revelation 18. "...Take thou also unto thee principal spices...of
sweet cinnamon...Exodus 30. DIABETES; Dysmenorrhea; DYSPEPSIA; PAIN;
FEVER; Rheumatism; TUBERCULOSIS.
CISTUS CRETICUS L. "European Rock Rose"," Ladanum" " Myrhh (Biblical)
(ROCKROSE FAMILY) "...A company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with
their camels, bearing spicery and balm and myrrh..." Genesis 37.
Asthma; Catarrh; Dysentery; Dysmenorrhea; Dyspnea.
CITRULLUS COLOCYNTHIS (L.) Schrad. "Colocynth", " Bitter Apple", "
Wild Gourd (Biblical)," " Gall (Biblical)" (GOURD FAMILY) "...Behold,
I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them
water of gall to drink..." Jeremiah 9. CANCER; CONSTIPATION; Fever;
Neuralgia, Rheumatism; Sciatica; Splenomegaly; WORMS; Wounds.
CITRULLUS LANATUS (Thunb.) Matusmara et Nakai "Watermelon", "
Sandia", "Patilla" (GOURD FAMILY) "...We remember the fish, which we
did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons..." Numbers
11. Cystitis; Dyspepsia; Gonorrhea; Fever; PROSTATITIS.
*CITRUS MEDICA L. "Citron" "Etz hadar=goodly trees"(Biblical)
"Ethrog" (CITRUS FAMILY) "And you shall take on the first day the
fruit of goodly trees" Leviticus 23: 40. Bronchosis; Dyspepsia;
Enterosis; Lumbago; Seasickness.
*COMMIPHORA ABYSSINICA (Berg.) Engl. "Myrrh" (COPAL FAMILY) "Your
robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia." Psalms
45:8.
COMMIPHORA AFRICANA Engl. "African Myrrh" "Bdellium" (COPAL FAMILY)
"...out of the ground made the Lord God to grow evey tree that is
pleasant to the sight, and good for food; ...there is bdellium..."
Genesis 2. Cramps; Dyspepsia; Fever; Hepatitis; Ophthalmia.
COMMIPHORA MYRRHA (Nees) Engl. "Myrrh" (COPAL FAMILY) "...six months
with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other
things for the purifying of the women..." Esther 2. Bronchorrhea;
GINGIVITIS; Leucorrhea; SORE THROAT; STOMATITIS; Worms; WOUNDS.
COMMIPHORA GILEADENSIS (L.) Engl. (Syn.: COMMIPHORA OPOBALSAMUM (L.)
Engl). "Balsam", "Balsam of Gilead", " Balm (Biblical)" (COPAL
FAMILY) "...they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and pannag,
and honey, and oil, and balm... "Ezekiel 27. Cold; Dyspepsia; Flu;
Infections; Wounds.
CONIUM MACULATUM L. "Hemlock" "Poison Hemlock" (CELERY
FAMILY)...judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the
field...Hosea 10 "...for you have turned judgment into gall, and the
fruit of righteousness into hemlock..." Amos 6. Asthma; Bronchitis;
Erysipelas; Insomnia; POISON.
CORIANDRUM SATIVUM L. "Coriander" (CELERY FAMILY) "...And the manna
was as coriander seed..." Numbers 11. DYSPEPSIA; HALITOSIS;
Impotence; Neuralgia; Rheumatism; Toothache.
CROCUS SATIVUS L. "Saffron Crocus" "Saffron" (IRIS FAMILY) "...Thy
plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits;
camphire, with spikenard...and saffron; calamus and cinnamon..." Song
of Solomon 4. CANCER; Chickenpox; Dysmenorrhea; Measles; Mumps;
Pertussis.
CUCUMIS MELO L. "Muskmelon", "Cantaloup", "Honeydew", "Mango Melon"
(GOURD FAMILY) "...We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt
freely; the cucumbers, and the melons..." Numbers 11. Cancer;
Dyspepsia; Eczema; Freckles; Menorrhagia.
CUCUMIS SATIVUS L. "Cucumber" (GOURD FAMILY) "...as a lodge in a
garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city..." Isaiah 1. Acne; Burns;
Cold; Herpes; Sunburn.
CUMINUM CYMINUM L. "Cumin" (CELERY FAMILY) "...for ye pay tithe of
mint and anise and cummin..." Matthew 23. Asthma; Dermatitis;
Dysentery; Impotence; Syncope; Tachycardia.
CUPRESSUS SEMPERVIRENS L."Gopherwood" "Cypress" (CYPRESS FAMILY)
"...He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak..."
Isaiah 44. Bronchitis; Dyspepsia; Hemorrhoids; Orchitis; Splenitis.
*CURCUMA LONGA longa L. "Turmeric" "Saffron" (Biblical) (GINGER
FAMILY) "...Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant
fruits; camphire, with spikenard...and saffron; calamus and
cinnamon..." Song of Solomon 4. ARTHRITIS; BRONCHITIS; DYSPEPSIA;
LARYNGITIS; LYMPHOMA; RHEUMATISM; FUNCTIONAL CLAIMS:
Antiinflammatory;Carminative; Diuretic; Expectorant; Stomachic.
*CYMBOPOGON MARTINII Stapf. "Ginger Grass" "Palmarosa" "Aromatic
Cane" (Biblical) (GRASS FAMILY) "Take the finest spices: of liquid
myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as
much, that is, two hundred and fifty, and of aromatiuc cane, two
hundred and fifty." Exodus 30:23.
CYNOMORIUM COCCINEUM L. "Juniper (Biblical)" (CYNOMORIUM FAMILY)
"...who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their
meat..." Job 30. Colic; Constipation; Dysentery; Impotence;
Nephrosis; Sterility.
CYPERUS PAPYRUS L. "Papyrus", "Bulrush", " Rush (Biblical)" (SEDGE
FAMILY) "...Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow
without water?..." Job 8. Cancer; Fistula; Ophthalmia; Sores.
DIOSPYROS EBENUM Koerng "Date-Plum" "Ebony (Biblical)" (PERSIMMON
FAMILY) "...They brought thee for a present horns of ivory and
ebony..."Ezekiel 27. Cancer; Itch; Leprosy;
Ringworm; Stones.
DIOSPYROS MELANOXYLON Roxb. "Ebony Persimmon" (PERSIMMON FAMILY)
"...They brought thee for a present horns of ivory and
ebony..."Ezekiel 27. Dermatitis; Smallpox; Ulcers; Uterosis;
Vaginitis.
*ECHINOPS VISCOSUS DC. "Globe Thistle" "Brier" (ASTER FAMILY) "I will
flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers"
Judges 8:7.
ELAEAGNUS ANGUSTIFOLIA L. "Oleaster", " Russian Olive". " Olive
(Biblical)" (RUSSIAN OLIVE FAMILY) "...Go forth unto the mount, and
fetch olive branches, and pine..." Nehemiah 8. Bronchitis; Burns;
Catarrh; Constipation; Fever; Nauralgia; Wounds.
*ERUCA SATIVA L. "Garden Rocket" "Oroth (Biblical)" "Gargir (Arabic)"
"One of them went out into the field to gather oroth (herbs), and
found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds,
and came and cut them up into the pot of pottage, not knowing what
they were. And they poured out for the men to eat." II Kings 4: 39-
40.
FERULA GALBANIFLUA Boiss and Buhse "Galbanum" (CELERY FAMILY)
"...Moses, take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and
galbanum..." Exodus 30. Allergy; Bronchitis; Cancer' Caries; Colds;
Dyspepsia; Inflammations.
*FERULA GUMMOSA Boiss. "Galbanum" (CELERY FAMILY) "I grew tall ...
like cassia and camel's thorn I gave forth the aroma of spices, and
like choice myrrh I spread a pleasant odor, like galbanum, onycha and
stacte, and like the fragrance of frankincense in the tabernacle."
Ecclesiasticus 24: 14-5.
FICUS CARICA L. "Fig Tree" (MULBERRY FAMILY) "...And Isaiah said,
take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil and he
recovered..." II Kings 20. CANCER; LEUCODERMA; RINGWORM; Thrush;
Wounds.
FICUS SYCOMORUS L. "Mulberry Fig", "Sycamore Fig", "Sycomore"
(MULBERRY FAMILY) "...I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore
fruit..." Amos 7. Burns; Cancer; Cirrhosis; Dermatosis; Dyslactea;
Scrofula; Sore Throat.
FRAXINUS ORNUS L. Manna Ash (OLIVE FAMILY) "...Behold, we have sent
you money to buy burnt offerings, and sin offerings, and incense, and
prepare ye manna..." Baruch 1. CONSTIPATION; Fever; Gonorrhea;
Malaria.
GOSSYPIUM HERBACEUM L. "Cotton" (MALLOW FAMILY) "...There were white
cotton curtains and blue hangings caught up with cords of fine
linen..." Ester 1. CANCER; CONTRACEPTIVE; Dermatitis; Dyslactea;
Gout; Malaria.
*GUNDELIA TOURNEFORTII L. "Tournefort's Gundelia" "Tumbleweed" (ASTER
FAMILY) "O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before
the wind."
*HALOXYLON PERSICUM Bge. "White Saxaul" "Adah" (Biblical) "Ada
(Arabic) "Lamech said to his wives 'Adah and Zilla, hear my voice'"
Genesis 4: 23.
*HAMMADA SALICORNICA (Moq.) Iljin "Hammada" "Lye"(Biblical) "Rimth"
(Arabic) (LAMBSQUARTER FAMILY) "Though you wash youself with lye and
use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me..."
Jeremiah 2:22.
HEDERA HELIX L. "Ivy" (ARALIA FAMILY) "...they were compelled to go
in procession to Baccus carrying ivy..." Il Maccabees 6. Cancer;
Corns; Impotence; Malaria; Rheumatism; Toothache.
HORDEUM VULGARE L. "Barley" (GRASS FAMILY) "...Let thistles grow
instead of wheat and cockle instead of barley..." Job 31. DYSPEPSIA;
Fractures; Orchitis; Parotitis; Sunstroke; Tuberculosis.
HYACINTHUS ORIENTALIS L. "Hyacinth", "Lily of the Valley (Biblical)"
(LILY FAMILY) "...I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the
valleys..." Song of Solomon 2. Dysuria; Jaundice;
Leucorrhea.
*HYOSCYAMUS AUREUS L. "GoldenHenbane" "Shikkeron"(Biblical) (POTATO
FAMILY) "The bundary goes out to the shoulder of the hill north of
Ekron, then the boundary bends round to Shikkeron, and passes along
to Mount Baalah, and goes out to Jabneel." Joshua 15: 11. NARCOTIC.
*HYOSCYAMUS MUTICUS L. "Henbane" "Shikkeron"(Biblical) (POTATO
FAMILY) "The bundary goes out to the shoulder of the hill north of
Ekron, then the boundary bends round to Shikkeron, and passes along
to Mount Baalah, and goes out to Jabneel." Joshua 15: 11. NARCOTIC.
IRIS PSEUDACORUS L . "Yellow Flag", "Lily (Biblical)" (IRIS FAMILY)
"...he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as
Lebanon..." Hosea 14. Bruises; Cholera; CONSTIPATION; Hepatosis;
Rheumatism; Sciatica.
JUGLANS REGIA L. "Carpathian or Persian Walnut", "English Walnut",
"Nuts (Biblical)"
(WALNUT FAMILY) "...I went down into the garden of nuts to see the
fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the
pomegranates budded..." Song of Solomon 6. Alopecia; Cancer; Flu;
Gingivitis; Halitosis; Headache.
JUNCUS EFFUSUS L. "Bog Rush" , " Soft Rush", " Flag (Biblical)" (RUSH
FAMILY) "...The seeds and the flags shall wither..." Isaiah 19>
Anuria; Cough; Dropsy; Insomnia; Sore Throat; Stones.
JUNIPERUS EXCELSA Bieb. "Grecian Juniper", "Algum (Biblical)"
(JUNIPER FAMILY) "...Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum
trees, out of Lebanon..." II Chronicles 2. Cough; Dyspepsia;
Hepatosis; Rheumatism; Wounds.
JUNIPERUS OXYCEDRUS L. "Brown Juniper", "Cade", "Heath (Biblical)"
"Prickly Juniper", "Cedar" (JUNIPER FAMILY) "...For he shall be like
the heath in the desert... " Jeremiah 17. Alopecia; Cancer;
Dermatitis; Eczema; Leprosy; Pruritis; Psoriasis.
*JUNIPERUS PHOENICIA L. "Phoenician Juniper" "Aroer" (Biblical);
Arar"(Arabic) "From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the
Arnon." Deuteronomy 2:36.
LACTUCA SATIVA L. "Lettuce" (ASTER FAMILY) "...eat it with unleavened
bread and bitter herbs..." Numbers 9. Burns' Cough; Cancer;
Impotence; INSOMNIA; Nymphomania.
*LAGENARIA SICERARIA (Mol.) Standl. "Bottle Gourd" "Dilean" Zenan.
Hadashah, Migdal-Gad, Dilean..." Joshua 15:37-8.
LAURUS NOBILIS L. "Bayleaf", "Sweet Bay", "Grecian Laurel", "Green
Bay (Biblical)" (LAUREL FAMILY) "...I have seen the wicked in great
power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree..." Psalm
37DIABETES; Dyspepsia; Earache; Insomnia; MIGRAINE; PAIN.
LAWSONIA INERMIS L. "Henna", "Egyptian Privet", "Mignonette",
"Camphire (Biblical)" (LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY) "...My beloved is unto me
as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards..." Song of Solomon 1.
CANCER; Dermatitis; Inflammation; SUNBURN; URTICARIA; Rheumatism.
LENS CULINARIS Medik. "Lentil" (LEGUME FAMILY) "...Then Jacob gave
Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat..." Genesis 25.
FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME; SPINA BIFIDA.
LILIUM CANDIDUM L. "Madonna Lily" (LILY FAMILY) "...to feed in the
gardens, and to gather lillies..." Song of Solomon 6. CANCER; Corns;
Dermatitis; Dropsy; Epilepsy.
LINUM USITATISSIMUM L. "Flax", "Linen (Biblical)" (FLAX FAMILY)
"...And he took it down, and wrapped it in Linen... "Luke 23.
Arthritis; Bronchitis; CANCER; CARDIOPATHY;
Cold; DERMATITIS;INFLAMMATION; Rheumatism.
*LIQUIDAMBAR ORIENTALIS Miller "Storax" "Sweet Gum" "Balm" (Biblical)
(STORAX FAMILY) "...Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels
bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to
Egypt." Genesis 37: 25.
LOLIUM TEMULENTUM L. "Darnel", "Tares (Biblical)" (GRASS FAMILY)
"...But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the
wheat..." Matthew 13. Colic; Leprosy; MIGRAINE; Rheumatism;
Toothache.
LYCIUM EUROPAEUM Linn. "European Box Thorn", " Desert Thorn",
"Bramble (Biblical)" (POTATO FAMILY) "...let fire come out of the
bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon..." Judges 9. Cramps;
Hepatosis; INFLAMMATION; Splenosis; Tumors.
*MALUS SYLVESTRIS Mill. "Apple" (ROSE FAMILY) "Sustain me with
raisins, refresh me with apples; for I am sick with love." Song of
Solomon2:5. CONSTIPATION.
.
MALVA SYLVESTRIS L. "Blue Mallow" (MALLOW FAMILY) "...who cut up by
mallows by the bushes..." Job 30. COLD, COUGH, Gravel; INFLAMMATION;
Jaundice; SORE THROAT.
MANDRAGORA OFFICINARUM L. "Loveapple", "Mandrake" (POTATO FAMILY)
"...The mandrakes gave a smell..." Song of Solomon 7. ASTHMA;
INSOMNIA; COUGH; HAYFEVER; RHEUMATISM;VERTIGO.
*MATRICARIA AUREA (Loefl.) Sch. Bip (Syn.ANTHEMIS SP sensu Zohary.
"Dog Chamomile" (ASTER FAMILY) "All flesh is grass, and all its glory
like the flower of the grass.The grass withers, and the flower falls;
but the word of the Lord abides forever." I Peter 1:24. Cold;
Conjunctivitis; Cough; Debility; Diabetes; ENTERALGIA; Fever;
Gingivosis;Headache; Myalgia; Neuralgia; Neurosis; Toothache;
Wounds.
MENTHA LONGIFOLIA (L.) Huds. "Biblical Mint" "Horsemint" "Mint" (MINT
FAMILY)
"...for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs..." Luke II.
COLD Dermatitis; DYSPEPSIA; HEADACHE; Impotence; PAIN; RHEUMATISM.
MORUS NIGRA L. "Black Mulberry", "Purple Mulberry", "Sycamine
(Biblical)" (MULBERRY FAMILY) "...And to the end they might provoke
the elephants to fight, they shewed them the blood of grapes and
mulberries..." I Maccabees 6. Conjunctivitis; Dysmenorrhea; Fever;
Sorethroat.
MYRTUS COMMUNIS L. "Myrtle" (MYRTLE FAMILY) "...I will plant in the
wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil
tree..." Isaiah 41. "...Go forth unto the mount and fetch olive
branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm
branches..." Nehemiah 8. Asthma; bronchitis; Cancer; Hemorrhoids;
Polyps; Smallpox; TUBERCULOSIS.
NARCISSUS TAZETTA L. "Narcissus", "Buttercup", " Rose (Biblical)"
(AMARYLLIS FAMILY) "...The wilderness and the solitary place shall be
glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the
rose..." Isaiah 35. CANCER; Epilepsy; Fever; Mastitis; Ophthalmia.
NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI DC. "Spikenard" (VALERIAN FAMILY) "...Thy
plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits: camphire
with spikenard..." Song of Solomon 4. ARRHYTHMIA; CARDIOPATHY;
Chorea; CRAMPS; DYSMENORRHEA; Epilepsy; Headache; INSOMNIA; Leprosy.
NASTURTIUM OFFICINALE R. Br. "Watercress" (MUSTARD FAMILY) "...Eat it
with unleavened bread and bitter herbs..." Numbers 9. Asthma; CANCER;
COLD; Dermatitis; Nephrosis; Tuberculosis.
NERIUM OLEANDER L. "Rose (Biblical)" (DOGBANE FAMILY) "...Hearken
unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the
brook of the field..." Ecclesiasticus 39. POISONOUS: Cancer;
Cardiopathy; Dermatitis; Edema; Hypertension; Leprosy; Ringworm.
NIGELLA SATIVA L. "Black Cumin", "Fitch (Biblical)" (BUTTERCUP
FAMILY) "...For the fitches are not thrashed with a threshing
instrument. ..but the fitches are beaten out with a staff..." Isaiah
28. ARTHRITIS;ASTHMA, BRONCHITIS; Colic; Cough; Dermatitis;
DYSMENORRHEA; Orchitis; RHEUMATISM.
*NOTOBASIS SYRIACA (L.) Coss. "Syrian Thistle" "Thorn" (ASTER FAMILY)
"I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with
briers" Judges 8:7.
NYMPHAEA ALBA L. "Waterlily", " Lotus", "Lily (Biblical)" (WATERLILY
FAMILY) "...And upon the top of the pillars was lily work..." I Kings
7. Cancer; Cramps; Diarrhea; Fever; INSOMNIA.
OLEA EUROPEA L. "Olive (Biblical)" (OLIVE FAMILY) "...His branches
shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree..." Hosea 14.
CANCER; CARDIOPATHY; Dermatitis; HYPERTENSION; Sore Throat; Sunburn.
ORIGANUM MARU L. "Egyptian Marjoram" " Hyssop (Biblical)" (MINT
FAMILY) "...He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to
the hyssop that grows out of the wall. I Kings 4:33." COLD; COLIC;
Polyps;RHEUMATISM; Sprain; Swelling.
*ORIGANUM SYRIACUM L. "Syrian HYssop"" Hyssop (Biblical)" (MINT
FAMILY) "...Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean..." Psalms
51 COLD; COLIC; Polyps; RHEUMATISM; Sprain; Swelling.
ORNITHOGALUM UMBELLATUM L. "Star of Bethlehem", "Dove's Dung
(Biblical)" (LILY FAMILY) "...and the fourth part of a cab of dove's
dung for five pieces of silver. .." II Kings 6. POISONOUS Adenopathy;
Cachexia; Debility; Infections; Parotitis.
PALIURUS SPINA-CHRISTI Mill "Crown of Thorns (Biblical)" (BUCKTHORN
FAMILY) "...And when they had platted a crown of thorns..." Matthew
27. Diarrhea; Dystonia; Dysuria.
*PANCRATIUM MARITIMUM L. "Sea Daffodil" "Sea-Shore Lily" (AMARYLLIS
FAMILY) "I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall blossom as the
lily, he shall strike root as the poplar" Hosea 14: 5.
PANICUM MILIACEUM L. "Proso Millet", "Millet (Biblical)", "Pannag
(Biblical)" (GRASS FAMILY) "...Take thou also unto thee wheat, and
barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet and fitches, and put them
in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof..." Ezekiel 4. Abscesses;
Cancer; Gonorrhea; Infection; Momordicism.
*PAPAVER RHOEAS L. "Common Poppy", "Flanders Poppy", (POPPY FAMILY)
"All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the
field...The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God
will stand for ever." Isaiah 40: 6-8.
PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM L. "Opium Poppy", "Poppyseed Poppy", "Gall
(Biblical)" (POPPY FAMILY) "...they gave him vinegar to drink mingled
with gall: and when he had tasted thereof he would not drink..."
Matthew 27. CANCER; COUGH; Dysentery; INSOMNIA; Impotence; PAIN;
TOOTHACHE.
PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L. "Date Palm" (PALM FAMILY) "...and brought them
to Jericho, the city of palm trees..." II Chronicles 28. Asthma;
Cough; Fever; Gonorrhea; Toothache; Tuberculosis.
PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS (Cav.) Triri. ex Steud. "Common Reed" "Pen
(Biblical)" (GRASS FAMILY) "...I will not with ink and pen write unto
thee..." Ill John 13. Burns; Bronchitis; Cholera; Diabetes; Jaundice'
Leukemia.
PINUS BRUTIA Tenore "Brutian Pine", "Thick Tree (Biblical)" (PINE
FAMILY) "...Go forth unto the Mount, andfrtch olive branches, and
pine branches...and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches
of thick trees to make booths... " Nehemiah 8. Catarrh; Cough;
Gonorrhea; Hepatosis; Nephrosis; Rheumatism.
PINUS HALEPENSIS Mill. "Aleppo Pine", "Fir (Biblical)" (PINE FAMILY)
"...as for the stork, the fir trees are her house..." Psalms 104.
Catarrh; Cough; Gonorrhea; Hepatosis; Nephrosis; Rheumatism.
*PINUS PINEA L. "Stone Pine" "Holm" (Biblical). "He cuts down cedars;
of he chooses a holm tree or an oak and lets it grow strong amonbg
the trees of the forest; he plants a cedar and the rain nourishes
it." Isaiah 44:14.
PISTACIA LENTISCUS L."Mastic", "Mastick Tree (Biblical)" (CASHEW
FAMILY) "...who answered, Under a mastick tree..." Susanna 51.
Cancer; Cholecocystosis; Cough; Diarrhea; Hepatosis; Itch;
Rheumatism.
PISTACIA TEREBINTHUS L. "Cyprus Turpentine", "Teil Tree", "Turpentine
Tree (Biblical)" (CASHEW FAMILY) "...As the turpentine tree I
stretched out by branches..." Ecclesiasticus 24. Cancer; Cough;
Diarrhea; Fever; Inflammation.
PISTACIA VERA L. "Pistacio-nut", " Nuts (Biblical)" (CASHEW FAMILY)
"...carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey,
spices, and myrrh, nuts and almonds..." Genesis 43. Amenorrhea;
Bruises;Cough; Dysentery; Impotence; Pruiritus; Rheumatism.
*PISUM SATIVUM
PLATANUS ORIENTALIS L. "Plane Tree", " Chestnut (Biblical)" (SYCAMORE
FAMILY) "...And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel
and chestnut tree..." Genesis 30. Cancer; Diarrhea; Dysentery;
Inflammation; Ophthalmia; Rheumatism.
POPULUS ALBA L."Poplar (Biblical)" (WILLOW FAMILY) "...and Jacob took
him rods of green poplar..." Genesis 30. ARTHRITIS; Dermatitis;
FEVER; Rheumatism; Snakebite; Strangury; TOOTHACHE.
POPULUS EUPHRATICA Oliv. "Euphrates Aspen", " Willow (Biblical)"
(WILLOW FAMILY) "...We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst
thereof..." Psalms 137. ARTHRITIS; Dermatitis; FEVER; Rheumatism;
Snakebite; Strangury; TOOTHACHE.
PRUNUS ARMENIACA L. "Apricot" , " Chinese Almond", "Apple (Biblical)"
(ROSE FAMILY) "...A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in
pictures of silver..." Proverbs 25 POISONOUS SEED; Asthma; CANCER;
Cough; Laryngitis; Ophthalmia; Rheumatism.
PRUNUS DULCIS (Mill.) D.A. Webb "Almond" (ROSE FAMILY) "...and carry
down the man a present, a little balm, a little honey, spices, and
myrrh, nuts, and almonds..." Genesis 43. Acne; Asthma; CANCER; Cough;
Dermatitis; Laryngitis; Neuralgia.
PTEROCARPUS SANTALINUS L. "Red Saunders", "Almug (Biblical)" (LEGUME
FAMILY) "...brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees..." I
Kings 10. Dermatosis; DYSENTERY; Fever; Headache; Inflammation;
Malaria; Toothache.
PUNICA GRANATUM L. "Pomegranate", "Grenada" (POMEGRANATE FAMILY)
"...I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my
pomegranate..." Song of Solomon 8. Bronchitis; CANCER;
Conjunctivitis;DYSENTERY; DYSMENORRHEA; ESTROGENIC;HEMORRHOIDS;
INFERTILITY; SORE THROAT; STOMATITIS;WORMS.
QUERCUS AEGILOPS L. "Valonia Oak", " Dyer's Oak". "Oak (Biblical)"
(OAK FAMILY) "...And as an oak, whose substance is in them, when the
cast their leaves..." Isaiah 6. Burns; Cancer.
QUERCUS COCCIFERA L. "Kermes Oak" " Scarlet (Biblical)" (OAK FAMILY)
"...And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood,
and scarlet, and hyssop..." Leviticus 14. Cancer; Fever; Sores;
Wounds.
QUERCUS ILEX L. "Holly Oak", " Oak (Biblical)" (OAK FAMILY) "...and
she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak..." Genesis 35. Cacoethes;
Cancer; Fever; Hepatosis; Tumors.
*REICHARDIA TINGITANA (L.) Roth. "Poppy-leaved Reichardia" "Bitter
Herb" (Biblical) (ASTER FAMILY) "...with unleavened bread and bitter
herbs they shall eat it." Exodus 12:8.
RETAMA RAETAM (Forsk.) Webb. & Berth."White Broom", "Juniper
(Biblical)" (LEGUME FAMILY) "...went a day's journey into the
wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree..." I Kings
19. Arthritis; Diarrhea; Fever; Ophthalmia; Pain; Sore.
RHAMNUS PALAESTINA Boiss "Palestine Buckthorn", "Hedge (Biblical)"
(BUCKTHRON FAMILY) "...whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite
him..." Ecclesiastes 10. Cancer; Constipation.
RICINUS COMMUNIS L. "Castorbean", " Palma Christ", " Gourd
(Biblical)" (SPURGE FAMILY) "...And the Lord God prepared a gourd,
and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his
head...Jonah 4. Abscess; Bunion; CANCER; Conjunctivitis; DERMATITIS;
Gout; Headache; Lumbago; Rheumatism; Sciatica.
ROSA PHONECIA Boiss. "Phoenician Rose" (ROSE FAMILY) "...whereup they
grew roses and lilies..." 11 Esdras 2. SCURVY.
*RUBIA TINCTORUM L. "Dyer's Madder" "Puah" (Biblical) (COFFEE FAMILY)
"...There arose to deliver Israel Tola, the son of Puah, son of
Dodo..." Judges 10: 1.
*RUBUS SANGUINEUS Friv. "Bramble" "Thorn"(Biblical) (ROSE FAMILY)
"Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards
himself will keep far from them. Proverbs 22:5.
RUBUS SANCTUS Schreb. "Blackberry ", "Bramble (Biblical)" (ROSE
FAMILY) "...nor of a bramble bush gather thy grapes..." Luke 6.
RUMEX ACETOSELLA Linn. "Sheep Sorrel" (BUCKWHEAT FAMILY) "...eat it
with unleavened bread and bitter herbs..." Numbers 9. Cancer;
Dyspepsia; Epithelioma; Fever; Jaundice.
RUSCUS ACULEATUS L. "Butchers Broom", "Knee Holly", "Brier
(Biblical)" (BUTCHER'S BROOM FAMILY) "...And there shall be no more a
pricking brier unto the house of Israel..." Ezekiel 28. Chilblains;
Dyspnea; Dysuria; FEVER; Jaundice; Nephrosis.
RUTA GRAVEOLENS L. "Rue", "Garden Rue", "German Rue", "Herbygrass" ,
"Herbe of Grace" (CITRUS FAMILY) "...But woe unto you, Pharisees! for
ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs..." Luke Il. POISONOUS;
Colic; CRAMPS; Dyspepsia; Epilepsy; Hysteria; Rheumatism; VITILIGO.
SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM L. "Sugarcane", " Sweet Cane (Biblical)" (GRASS
FAMILY) "...Thou has bought me no sweet cane with money..."Isaiah 43.
Cancer; Cold; Cough; Dysentery; Hemorrhoids; Laryngitis; Pertussis;
Sore Throat.
SALICORNIA EUROPEA L. "Glasswort", " Sope (Biblical)" (LAMBSQUARTER
FAMILY)
"...for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's sope..."
Malachi 3. Cancer; Tumors.
SALIX ALBA L. "Willow" (WILLOW FAMILY) "...And they shall spring up
as among the grass, as willows by the water course..." Isaiah
44.ARTHRITIS; COLD: FEVER: FLU: RHEUMATISM; TOOTHACHE.
SALIX BABYLONICA L. "Weeping Willow", " Willow (Biblical)" (WILLOW
FAMILY) "...We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst
thereof..."Psalms 137 ARTHRITIS; COLD; FEVER; FLU; RHEUMATISM;
TOOTHACHE.
SALIX FRAGILIS Linn. "Crack Willow", "Red-Wood Willow ", "Kashmir
Willow" (WILLOW FAMILY) "...the willows of the brook compass him
about..." Job 40. ARTHRITIS; COLD; FEVER; FLU; RHEUMATISM;
TOOTHACHE.
SALSOLA KALI L. "Glasswort", "Saltwort" (LAMBSQUARTER FAMILY) "...for
though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much sope..."
Jeremiah 2. Cancer; Dropsy; Dysmenorrhea; Infections; Worms.
SALVIA JUDAICA Boiss. "Judean Sage", "Candlestick (Biblical)" (MINT
FAMILY) "...And he made the candlestick of pure gold..." Exodus 37.
*SARCOPOTERIUM SPINOSUM (L.) Spach. "Thorny Burnet" "Thorn"
(Biblical) (ROSE FAMILY) "Therefore I will hedge up her way with
thorns. . ." Hosea 2: 6.
SAUSSUREA LAPPA (Decaisne) C.B. Clarke "Indian Orris", " Kuth",
"Costus Oil" "Cassia (Biblical)" (ASTER FAMILY) "...All thy garments
smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia..." Psalms 45. ASTHMA;
BRONCHITIS; CHOLERA; COUGH; Dermatosis; Dyspepsia; Smallpox;
Stomachache; Tuberculosis.
*SCOLYMUS HISPANICUS L. "Golden Thistle", "Thistles" (ASTERACEAE)
"...Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in
its fortresses." Isaiah 34: 13.
*SCOLYMUS MACULATUS L. "Golden Thistle", "Brambles" (ASTERACEAE)
"...As a lily among brambles, so is my love among maidens." Song of
Solomon 2: 2.
*SCIRPUS LACUSTRIS L. "Lake Rush" "Agmon (Hebrew) "Reed" (Biblical)
"So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branches and
reed in one day.
*SENNA ALEXANDRINA Miller (Syn. CASSIA SENNA L). "Alexandrian Senna"
"Indian Senna" "Senna" "Burning Bush (Biblical) (LEGUME FAMILY) "And
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the
midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning. . ."
Exodus 3:2. CONSTIPATION; Cramps; Gastrosis.
SILYBUM MARIANUM Gaertn. "Thistles", "Milk Thistle" (ASTERACEAE)
"...Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou
shalt eat the herb of the field..." Genesis 3. Asthma;
Calculus;CIRRHOSIS; Fever; HEPATITIS;
JAUNDICE; Pluerisy; PSORIASIS;Splenitis.
SINAPIS ARVENSIS L. "Charlock", "Field Mustard" " Nettle (Biblical)"
(MUSTARD FAMILY) "...it was all grown over with thorns and nettles
had covered the face..." Proverbs 24. Arthritis; BRONCHITIS; CANCER;
COLDS; Pluerisy; Pneumonia; Rheumatism.
SOLANUM INCANUM L. "Sodom Apple", "Palestine Nightshade", "Brier
(Biblical)" "Jericho Potato" (POTATO FAMILY) "...and it shall burn
and devour his thorns and briers in one day..." Isaiah 10. POISONOUS:
CANCER; Dermatitis; MELANOMA; Pleurisy; Sore Throat; Toothache.
SOLANUM SODOMEUM L. "Vine of Sodom" (POTATO FAMILY) "...For their
vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah..."
Deuteronomy 32. POISONOUS: CANCER; Cystitis;
Dermatitis;MELANOMA; Pleurisy; RINGWORM; Sore Throat; Toothache.
SORGHUM BICOLOR (L.) Moeiich "Sorghum", "Milo", "Broomcorn", "Hyssop
(Biblical)" (GRASS FAMILY) "...they filled a spunge with vinegar, and
put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth..." John 19. Burns;
Cancer; Dysuria; Epilepsy; Flu; Measles; Nephrosis; Stomachache.
STYRAX BENZOIN Dryand "Onycha (Biblical)" (STORAX FAMILY) "...Take
unto thee sweet spices, stacte and onycha..." Exodus 30. BRONCHITIS;
Cancer; LARYNGITIS; Mastitis; Ringworm; Shingles.
STYRAX OFFICINALIS L "Stacte (storax)" (STORAX FAMILY) "...Take unto
thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet
spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:
And thou shalt make it a perfume..." Exodus 30.(How's that for an
early perfume recipe) Arthritis; BRONCHITIS; Cancer; Cold; Hysteria;
Sores; Spermatorrhea.
*SUEDA SPP "Sea Blite" "Shahor"=Black (Hebrew)" "Ashhur" (Biblical) "
Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives." I Chronicles 4:5.
TAMARIX APHYLLA (L.) Karst "Tamarisk", " Grove (Biblical)" (TAMARISK
FAMILY) "...And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba. .." Genesis
21. Eczema; Infertility; Impotence; Ophthalmia; Psoriasis; Splenitis;
Syphilis.
TARAXACUM OFFICINALE Weber ex Wigg. "Dandelion" (ASTER FAMILY)
"...eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs..." Numbers 9.
CANCER; DIABETES; HEPATITIS; Rheumatism; Sciatica.
TETRACLINIS ARTICULATA (Vahl) Masters "Sandarac", " Thyine
(Biblical)" (CYPRESS FAMILY) "...and all thyine wood, and all manner
vessels of ivory..." Revelation 18. Dermatitis; Migraine; Neckache.
TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM L. "Fenugreek" "Leek (Biblical)" (LEGUME
FAMILY) "...We remember the fish...and the leeks..." Numbers
11.Alopecia; DIABETES; DYSLACTEA; Dyspepsia;HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA;
Leukorrhea; MICROMASTIA; Pain;RHEUMATISM; Swelling.
TRITICUM AESTIVUM L. "Wheat" "Corn (Biblical)" (GRASS FAMILY) "...And
he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn
came up upon one stalk, rank and good..." Genesis 41. Diarrhea;
Leprosy; Menorrhagia; Neurasthenia; Sunstroke; Syphilis;
Tuberculosis.
TRITICUM SPELTA L. "Spelt" " Rie (Biblical)" (GRASS FAMILY) "...But
the wheat and the rie were not smitten..." Exodus 9. Aegilops.
*TULIPA MONTANA Lindl. "Mountain Tulip" (LILY FAMILY) "The flowers
appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of
the turtledove is heard in our land." Song of Solomon 2: 12.
TYPHA AUSTRALIS Schum & Thonn. "Cattail", "Reed (Biblical)" (CATTAIL
FAMILY) "...and they smote him on the head with a reed... " Mark 15.
Epilepsy; Insanity; Tumors; Wounds.
*ULMUS CANESCENS Melv. "Hairy Elm" "Neshem" (Arabic).
URTICA DIOICA L. "Stinging Nettle", "Common Nettle" , "Greater
Nettle" (NETTLE FAMILY) "...and thorns shall come up in her palaces,
nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof..." Isaiah
34. ALLERGY; ARTHRITIS; HAY FEVER; PROSTATITIS; RHEUMATISM.
URTICA PILULIFERA L. "Roman Nettle", "Nettles (Biblical)" (NETTLE
FAMILY) "...the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall
possess them..." Hosea 9. ALLERGY; ARTHRITIS; HAY FEVER; PROSTATITIS;
RHEUMATISM.
VETIVERIA ZIZANIOIDES (L.) Nash "Vetiver", "Calamus (Biblical)"
(GRASS FAMILY) "...bright iron, cassia and calamus, were in thy
markets... " Ezekiel 22. Boils; Burns; Colic; Epilepsy; Fever; Flu;
Hepatitis; Yellow Fever.
*VIBURNUM TINUS L. "Viburnu," "Plane" (Biblical) "Murran (Arabic)" "I
will set in the desert the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to
beautify the place of my sanctuary..." Isaiah 60: 13.
VICIA FABA L. "Broadbean", " Fava Bean", " Horsebean" , "Windsorbean"
, "Tickbeans (small types)" (LEGUME FAMILY) "...and flour, and
parched corn, and beans..." II Samuel 17. CANCER;
DRUNKENESS;ESTROGENIC; IMPOTENCE; PARKINSONISM; Pneumonia.
VITIS ORIENTALIS (Lam.) Boiss. "Wild Grape (Biblical)" (GRAPE FAMILY)
"...and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought
forth wild grapes..." Isaiah 5. Arthritis; CARDIOPATHY; HERPES;
HYPERTENSION; Rheumatism; TUBERCULOSIS.
VITIS VINIFERA L. "Vine (grape)" (GRAPE FAMILY) "...But they shall
sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree..."Micah 4.
Arthritis;CARDIOPATHY; HERPES; HYPERTENSION; Rheumatism;
TUBERCULOSIS.
XANTHIUM SPINOSUM L. "Clotbur", "Cockleburr", "Thorns (Biblical)"
(ASTER FAMILY) "...and thorns shall come up in her palaces... Isaiah
34. Diarrhea; Dyspepsia; Osteosis; Rabies; Sores; Ulcers.
*ZILLA SPINOSA (L.) Prantl "Spiny Zilla" "Silon=Thorn'"(Bible)
(MUSTARD FAMILY) "And for the house of Israel there shall be no more
a brier to prick or a thorn to hurt them among all their neighbors
who have treated them with contempt." Ezekiel 28: 24.
ZIZIPHUS SPINA-CHRISTI (L.) Willd. "Syrian Christ Thorn", "Thorns
(Biblical)" (BUCKTHORN FAMILY) "...Do men gather grapes of thorns, or
figs of thistles?..." Matthew 7. Arthritis; CANCER; Hepatosis;
MELANOMA; Ophthalmia; Rheumatism; Toothache; Tumor.
ZOSTERA MARINA L. "Eelgrass", "Grass-Wrack", "Sea-Wrack", " Weeds
(Biblical)"
(EELGRASS FAMILY) "...the depth closed me round about, the weeds were
wrapped about my head..." Jonah 2. Diarrhea.
*ZYGOPHYLLUM DUMOSUM Boiss. "Bean Caper" "Elim"(Biblical) "And they
set out from Marah, and came to Elim; at Elim there were twelve
springs of water and seventy palm trees..." Numbers 33: 9.
Source:Duke, J. A. 1983. Medicinal Plants of the Bible. (Illustrated
by Peggy K. Duke) Out of print Trado-Medic Books, Buffalo, NY. 233
pp.
*Except species with asterisks, (after Zohary, 1982).
REFERENCES

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Anderson, A.W. 1957. Plants of the Bible. Philosophical Library,Inc.,
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Bailey, C., and Danin, A. 1981. "Bedouin Plant Utilization in Sinai
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Balfour, J .H. 1851. Phytotheology or Botanical Sketches Intended to
Illustrate the Works of God. Johnstone & Hunters. London. 242 pp.
Balfour, J.H. 1857. The Plants of the Bible: Trees and Shmbs. T.
Nelson & Sons. London. 54 pp.
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Oxford. 245 pp.
Boulos, L. 1983. Medicinal Plants of North Africa. Reference
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Callcott, M. 1842. A Scripture Herbal. Longman, Brown, Green and
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Crowfoot, G.M. and Baldensberger, L. 1932. From Cedar to Hyssop. A
study in the Folklore of Plants in Palestine. The Sheldon Press.
London. 196 pp.
Darom, D. s. d. Die Schonsten Pflanzen der Bibel. Palphot Ltd. P.O.
Box 2. Herzlia 46 100. 47 .
Harrison, R.K. 1966. Healing Herbs of the Bible. E.J. Brill, Leiden.
58 pp.
Hernandez Mesa, M. undated. Las Plantas Biblicas. Sus Propiedades
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King, E.A. 1975. Bible Plants for American Gardens. Dover, New York.
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Galil, J. 1968. "An Ancient Technique for Ripening Sycomore Fruit in
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Moldenke, H.N. 1954. "The Economic Plants of the Bible." Economic
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Moldenke, H.N. and Moldenke, A.L. 1952. Plants of the Bible.Chronica
Botanica Co., Waltham, Mass., 328 pp.
Osborn, D.J. 1968. "Notes on Medicinal and Other Uses of Plants in
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Materia Medica. Univ. Microfilms Internat. 457 pp. (Ph.D. Thesis,
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Longman & Todd. London. 173 pp.
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printing. 1981. Abingdon, Nashville. 1340 pp.
Tackholm, V. and Drar, M. 1973. Flora of Egypt. Vol. 1. Reprint. Otto
Koeltz Antiquariat, Koenigstein. 574 pp.
Temple, A.A. 1929. Flowers and Trees of Palest ine. Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge. London. 148 pp.
Walker, W. 1957. All the Plants of the Bible. Harper and Bros., New
York. 244 pp.
Zohary, M. 1966-present. Flora Palaestina. Israel Academy of Sciences
and Humanities. 8 Vols. (4 of plates) to date.
Zohary, M. 1982. Plants of the Bible. Cambridge University Press. New
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